Onion prices to come down in a month, thanks to clear skies

Oct 22, 2013, 05:57 IST
|
Richa Pinto

Traders say that farmers can now harvest the new crop, which in turn will reduce the price of the kitchen staple

The clear skies over the last few days are bringing smiles to the common man. The soaring prices of onions are now decreasing thanks to the climate and traders are hopeful that the skyrocketing prices will come down by next month.

Explaining the relation, a trader said that as the skies had cleared up, farmers could now harvest the crop, which till now was rotting in the fields, owing to the rains. This in turn, would reduce the number of spoilt onions coming to the market and help reduce the soaring prices.

New crop: The new medium-sized onions at the APMC market cost Rs 35-45 (per kg) and if things continue as they are, it could be a good Diwali for the common man

On Monday, the old crop at the Agricultural Marketing and Produce Committee (APMC) in Vashi was selling at Rs 50-60 kg whereas the new crop of medium-sized onions was selling for Rs 35-45 and the larger onions were selling for Rs 45. Meanwhile, the price of medium-sized onions in the retail market was Rs 65 but the cost would dip by mid-week.

Nitin Parakh, a trader from the APMC market, said by November 15, the market would stabilise and the damaged crop would reduce by then. “If the climate of the last few days is an indicator, then we should not be having problems.

By November 15, the market should stabilise completely,” adding that presently around 100 trucks are seen entering the market bringing onions from various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Islam Adreshi, another trader who had bought onions from Pakistan, said that nature cannot be controlled and it was difficult to say when the price would even out. “The farmers cannot enter the markets when it’s raining.

Therefore, the onions tend to get spoilt easily. If the current climate continues then the prices are sure to decrease and it will be a good festival season.”